Process and structure for servicing a vehicle over a service pit

ABSTRACT

A support for a non-automotive vehicle to be placed over a service pit and allow far servicing of the vehicle is disclosed. In addition, a process far servicing the vehicle is also disclosed. The support can include as support surface that has an engine access opening, a rolling mechanism attached to the support surface that affords for the support surface to roll over a surface at a predetermined height and at least one ramp attached to the support surface. The at least one ramp can be movable between a retracted position and an extended position and the support is dimensioned to roll over the service pit and allow for servicing of the non-automotive vehicle engine. In some instances, the support affords for the non-automotive vehicle to have its oil changed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/262,963 which claims priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/109,237 filed Oct. 29, 2008, both of which areincorporated herein by reference,

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to servicing a motor vehicle above aservice pit. More specifically, the invention relates to changing theoil of a non-automotive vehicle over a service pit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Quick lube facilities, also known as quick oil change facilities, arewell known. Such facilities allow a driver of a motor vehicle such as anautomobile and/or truck to drive the vehicle over a service pit, atwhich time at least one individual within the service pit services thevehicle from beneath the engine. For example, the individual can removethe oil drain plug from the engine and allow oil to drain therefrom.After the oil has been drained, the individual can replace the oil drainplug and new oil can he placed or poured into the engine. In addition,the individual can remove the oil filter and replace it with a new oilfilter and thereby provide and timely and cost efficient oil change forthe driver.

Other types of motorized vehicles besides automobiles and trucks can beused by individuals for transportation, entertainment, work and thelike. For example, motorcycles, scooters, all-terrain vehicles, ridinglawnmowers and the like, hereafter referred to as non-automotivevehicles, are common and also need regular engine maintenance. In orderto service the engine of such a vehicle, individuals have had to performthe work themselves or take the non-automotive vehicle to a specialtyshop where work on particular types of vehicles is performed. Forexample, a motorcycle shop is typically where an individual will takehis or her motorcycle, scooter and the like in order to have its oilchanged. However, such types of facilities typically do not afford for atimely and cost efficient process for servicing such a vehicle.Therefore, a process and/or structure that would allow an individual totake a non-automotive type vehicle to a quick lube facility and have thevehicle serviced would he desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A support for a non-automotive vehicle, hereafter also referred to as a“vehicle”, to be placed over a service pit and allow for servicing ofthe vehicle is disclosed. in addition, a process for servicing thevehicle is also disclosed. The support can include a support surfacethat has an engine access opening, a rolling mechanism attached to thesupport surface that affords for the support surface to roll over asurface at a predetermined height and at least one ramp attached to thesupport surface. The at least one ramp can be movable between aretracted position and an extended position and the support isdimensioned to roll over the service pit and allow for servicing of thenon-automotive vehicle engine. In some instances, the support affordsfor the non-automotive vehicle to have its oil changed.

The rolling mechanism can be a plurality of wheels that are rotatablyattached to the support surface and the at least one ramp can be a rearramp, a side ramp and a front ramp. The rear ramp in the extendedposition can provide an inclined surface extending from a rear portionof the support surface to a floor surface. The inclined surface of therear ramp affords for rolling the non-automotive vehicle onto thesupport surface. The side ramp can be a cover of and/or block the engineaccess opening of the support surface in the retracted position andprovide an inclined surface extending from a side portion of the supportsurface to the floor surface in the extended position. The inclinedsurface of the side ramp provides an aid for an individual to step offof the support support surface. The front ramp can have an uprightextended position and a down extended position. When in the uprightextended position, the front ramp is a generally vertical surfaceextending upwardly from a front portion of the support surface, thegenerally vertical surface operable to aid in preventing thenon-automotive vehicle from rolling off of the support surface. When thefront ramp is in the down extended position, it provides an inclinedsurface extending from a front portion of the support surface to a floorsurface such that the vehicle can be rolled off of the support. Thesupport can also include tie-down links that afford for tie-down strapsto be used to secure the vehicle onto the support. In addition, abracket or stand can extend from the support surface and be operable tosecure the vehicle to the support, hold the vehicle on the support andthe like.

The process for servicing the non-automotive vehicle can includeproviding a service pit with a top opening that has a width. Anon-automotive vehicle with an engine is provided along with a supportthat is dimensioned to support the vehicle and to generally span acrossthe width of the service pit top opening. The support can have an engineaccess opening that provides access to the underside of the vehicleengine. The support and the vehicle are placed over the pit such thatthe support spans the width of the top opening and supports, holds, etc.the vehicle over the service pit. In addition, the engine access openingof the support can be located underneath the vehicle engine and in someinstances directly beneath the oil drain plug. Thereafter, the engine ofthe vehicle is serviced. For example, the oil drain plug of the engineis removed, the oil is drained from the engine, the oil drain plug isreplaced and new oil is placed in the engine. After the vehicle isserviced, it is removed from over the service pit. In some instances,the service pit is located at a quick tube facility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present inventionillustrating a motorcycle being supported over a service pit;

FIG. 2 is a rearward perspective view of the support shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a frontward perspective view of the support shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a process for servicing a non-automotivevehicle over a service pit;

FIG. 5 is another embodiment of a process for servicing a non-automotivevehicle over a service pit; and

FIGS. 6A-6H illustrate a process for changing the oil of a motorcycleover a service pit at a quick lube facility using the embodiment shownin FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a structure and a process for servicinga non-automotive vehicle, hereafter also referred to as a “vehicle”,over a service pit. As such, the structure and/or the process haveutility as a component and/or a process for changing the oil of anon-automotive vehicle. For the purposes of the present invention, theterm “non-automotive vehicle” includes vehicles such as motorcycles,scooters, three-wheel all-terrain vehicles, four-wheel all-terrainvehicles, six-wheel all-terrain vehicles, riding lawnmowers and thelike.

A support for a non-automotive vehicle to be placed over a service pitand allow for servicing of the vehicle can include a support surfacethat has an engine access opening therewithin. Servicing of the vehiclecan include, but is limited to, changing the oil, checking and/oradjusting the tire air pressure, washing a windshield, performing asafety check, checking and/or replacing light bulbs and the like. Theengine access opening affords for access to an underside of an engine ofthe vehicle and in some instances allows access to an oil drain plug,oil filter and the like of the engine. The support can also include arolling mechanism attached to the support surface, the rolling mechanismoperable for the support surface to roll over a surface at apredetermined height. In this manner, the support surface can roll overa service pit and support the vehicle over the pit.

At least one ramp can be attached to the support surface, the at leastone ramp having and being movable between a retracted position and anextended position. The support can also include a tie-down link and/or abracket that affords for secure holding of the non-automotive vehicle onthe support while it is being serviced. The rolling mechanism can be aplurality of wheels that are rotatably attached to the support surface,however it is appreciated that the support surface can also be movedover the service pit by sliding, picking the support surface up andplacing it over the service pit and the like. In addition, a hoist canhe used to move and/or support the support surface over the service pitand the support surface can be moved over the pit by an automatedmechanical means.

The at least one ramp can include a rear ramp, a side ramp and a frontramp. The ramps can have a retracted position such that they are storedon top of and/or underneath the support surface. The rear ramp in theextended position can provide an inclined surface that extends from arear portion of the support surface to a floor surface. Such an inclinedsurface is operable to aid in rolling the non-automotive vehicle ontothe support surface. The side ramp can cover and/or block the engineaccess opening of the support surface when it is in the retractedposition and provide an inclined surface extending from a side portionof the support surface to the floor surface when in an extendedposition. The inclined surface of the side ramp provides an aid for anindividual to step off of the support surface. For example and forillustrative purposes only, an individual that has rolled thenon-automotive vehicle onto the support surface either by pushing thevehicle or riding the vehicle onto the surface, is aided in stepping offof the support surface by the side ramp in the extended position. Inaddition, it is appreciated that the side ramp in the retracted positioncovers and/or blocks the engine access opening such that the opening nothinder placing the vehicle onto the support surface.

The front ramp can have an upright extended position and a down extendedposition. In the upright extended position, the front ramp provides agenerally vertical surface extending upwardly from a front portion ofthe support surface, the generally vertical surface operable for aidingand preventing the non-automotive vehicle from rolling off of thesupport surface. In the down extended position, the front ramp is aninclined surface extending from the front portion of the support surfaceto the floor surface and thereby providing a ramp that the vehicle canuse to roll off of the support surface.

The process for servicing a non-automotive vehicle over a service pitcan include providing a service pit with a top opening having a width, anon-automotive vehicle with an engine and a support. The support can bedimensioned to generally span across the width of the service pit topopening and to support and/or hold the vehicle over the pit. The supportalso has an engine access opening that allows access to the underside ofthe vehicle engine. The support and the non-automotive vehicle areplaced over the service pit such that the support spans the width of theservice pit top opening and supports and/or holds the vehicle over theservice pit. The engine access opening of the support can be locatedunderneath an underside of the vehicle engine and provide access to suchcomponents as the oil drain plug, oil filter and the like. After thesupport and the non-automotive vehicle have been placed over the servicepit, the engine of the vehicle can e serviced. For example and forillustrative purposes only, an individual within the pit can remove theoil drain plug from the engine, allow at least part of any oil in theengine to be drained from the engine and then replace the oil drainplug. Thereafter, new oil can be put into the engine. It is appreciatedthat an oil filter of the engine can also be replaced. Thereafter, thevehicle can be removed from over the pit.

Any service pit can be used, including service pits at quick lubefacilities such as those used at quick lube facilities known by thenames Jiffy Lube™, Victory Lane Quick Oil Change®, Valvoline instant OilChange, Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change and the like. In addition, for thepurposes of the present invention, a support can be a plate, a cart, adolly, a platform, a hoist and combinations thereof that support and/orhold the non-automotive vehicle over the service pit such that thevehicle can be serviced. As such, a support that is at least partiallylocated within the service pit also falls within the scope of thepresent invention if as non-automotive vehicle is supported and/or heldby the support over the service pit and the vehicle can be servicedwhile located there. Thus the process includes providing any structurethat is operable to hold and secure a non-automotive vehicle over and/orat least partially within a service pit such that the vehicle can be atleast partially serviced from underneath, the structure being held overthe pit by mechanical means, electrical means and/or magnetic means.

Turning now to FIGS. 1-3, an embodiment of a support is shown generallyat reference numeral 10. The support 10 as shown in FIG. 1 has anon-automotive vehicle 70 thereon, with the support 10 and vehicle 70located over a pit 60. It is appreciated that FIG. 1 illustrates amotorcycle for illustrative purposes only. The vehicle can be heldsecurely on the support 10 using an attachment device 162,illustratively including a tie-down strap. In addition, a bracket and/orstand (not shown) can be included as part of the support 10, the bracketand/or stand operable to securely hold the vehicle 70. The pit 60 can heany kind of pit known to those skilled in the art that is used toservice an automobile, truck and the like. In some instances the servicepit can have a manual or automated mechanical means to move the support10. For example and for illustrative purposes only, the pit 60 canoptionally include a pulley 64 and a cable 66 that can he attached tothe support 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1, the pulley 64 and cable 66 usedto pull the support 10 over and/or off of the service pit 60. The pulley64 can be band operated with a lever, powered by an electric motor andthe like.

The support 10 can include, a support surface 100, the support surface100 having an engine access opening 112, a rear portion 114, a sideportion 116 and a front portion 118. Although not required, anindentation 119 can be included such that a wheel of a non-automotivevehicle can fit at least partially within and provide a location for thevehicle to be parked. In addition, more than two indentations 119 can heprovided. For example, an additional four indentations 119 can beprovided such that wheels of a four-wheel vehicle could fit at leastpartially within. The support 10 can include a rolling mechanism. 120,illustratively including a plurality of wheels that afford for thesupport 10 to roll across a surface or floor F. The rolling mechanism isrotatably attached to the support 10 such that the support rolls acrossthe floor F at a predetermined height. For example, if the service pit60 has a lip 62 extending at least partially around the pit, the support10 is dimensioned such that it can span the width of the pit 60 and rollover the lip 62 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The support 10 can also include at least one ramp, for example and forillustrative purposes only a rear ramp 130, a side ramp 140 and a frontramp 150. The at least one ramp can have and he movable between aretracted position and an extended position. For example, the rear ramp130, optionally having a handle 132, can have a retracted position asshown in FIG. 2 and an extended position as shown in FIG. 1. It isappreciated that the extended position of the rear ramp 130 provides aninclined surface extending from the rear portion 114 of the supportsurface 100 to the floor surface F. In this manner, the rear ramp 130 inthe extended position provides an aid for rolling the non-automotivevehicle up onto the support surface 100.

The side ramp 140 with an optional handle 142 also has a retractedposition as illustrated in FIG. 2 and an extended position as shown inFIG. 1. While in the retracted position, the side ramp 140 provides acover and/or blocks the engine access opening 112. In this manner, thenon-automotive vehicle 70 is not hindered by the engine access opening112 when the vehicle is rolled onto the support surface 100. In theextended position, the side ramp 140 provides an inclined surfaceextending from the side portion 116 of the support surface 100 to thefloor surface F. It is appreciated that an individual that has rolled orridden the vehicle onto the support surface 100 can use the side ramp140 in the extended position to step off of the support surface. It isfurther appreciated that the side ramp 140 in the extended positionuncovers and/or unblocks the engine access opening 112 such that accessto the underside of the engine of the vehicle 70 is provided.

The front ramp 150 with an optional handle 152 can have an uprightextended position and a down extended position. In the upright extendedposition the front ramp 150 provides a generally vertical surface asillustrated in FIG. 1, the vertical surface providing an aid to preventthe non-automotive vehicle 70 from rolling off of the support surface100. In the down extended position, the front ramp 150 provides aninclined surface extending from the front portion 118 of the supportsurface to the floor surface F. In this manner, the front ramp 150 inthe down extended position aids in rolling the vehicle 70 off of thesupport surface 100. It is appreciated that the front ramp 150 can haveone or more mechanisms that afford for the ramp to be placed into theupright extended position, the down extended position and the retractedposition. For example and for illustrative purposes only, FIG. 3illustrates a bracket 154 that holds the front ramp 150 in the generallyvertical position once it has been pulled out from under the supportsurface 100.

Turning now to FIG. 4, an embodiment for servicing a non-automotivevehicle over a service pit is shown generally at reference numeral 20.The process 20 includes providing a service pit at step 200 and anon-automotive vehicle, at step 210. A support is provided at step 220and the support and vehicle are placed over the pit at step 230. It isappreciated that the vehicle can be placed on the support before thesupport is placed over the pit, or in the alternative, the support canbe placed over the pit first, followed by the vehicle being placed ontothe support. Thereafter, the vehicle is serviced at step 240 and thenremoved from over the service pit at step 250.

Turning now to FIG. 5, another embodiment for servicing a non-automotivevehicle over a service pit is shown generally at reference numeral 30.Similar to the process 20 discussed above, the process 30 includesproviding a service pit at step 200 and a support at step 220. However,in the process 30 a motorcycle is provided at step 212. The motorcycleis placed onto the support at step 232 and the support with themotorcycle thereon is moved over the pit at step 234. The underside ofthe motorcycle engine is exposed at step 242 and the oil drain plug fromthe motorcycle engine is removed at step 244. At step 246, the oil fromthe motorcycle engine is allowed to drain and the oil drain plug isreplaced at step 248. New oil is placed within. the motorcycle engine atstep 249 and the motorcycle is removed from over the service pit at step257.

A process according to the embodiment 30 is illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6Husing the support illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. As shown in FIG. 6A, thesupport 10 is located at one end of the service pit 60. In addition, thenon-automotive vehicle 70 is located proximate to the rear portion 114of the support surface 100. FIG. 6A also illustrates that all of theramps of the support 10 are in the retracted position with the side ramp140 covering and/or blocking the engine access opening 112. In FIG. 6B,the rear ramp 130 is placed into an extended position 134 and thevehicle 70 is rolled in a first direction 1. It is appreciated that therear ramp 130 in the extended position 134 provides an inclined surfacethat extends from the rear portion 114 of the support surface 100 to thefloor surface F. As shown in FIG. 6C, the vehicle 70 has been pushed upthe rear ramp 130 and onto the support surface 100. It is appreciatedthat an individual can manually push the vehicle 70 up onto the supportsurface 100, or in the alternative, ride the vehicle 70 up onto thesupport surface 100.

After placing the non-automotive vehicle 70 onto the support surface100, a person P can use the side ramp 140 in the extended position 144to step off of the support surface 100. In addition, the side ramp 140in the extended position 144 uncovers and/or unblocks the engine accessopening 112. After the person P has stepped off of the support surface100, the support 10 with the vehicle 70 thereon can be moved in thefirst direction 1 as shown in FIG. 6E until the support 10 and thevehicle 70 are located over the service pit 60 as illustrated in FIG.6F. If the side ramp 140 has been placed in he retracted position whilethe support 10 and vehicle 70 are placed over the service pit 60, theside ramp 140 can be placed in the extended position 144 again in orderto allow access to the underside of the motorcycle engine through theengine access opening 112. Access to the underside of the motorcycleengine can afford for removal of the oil drain plug and/or the oilfilter of the engine which allows oil in the engine to drain.

After oil from the vehicle engine has properly drained, the oil drainplug and/or oil filter can be replaced and new oil placed into theengine of the non-automotive vehicle 70. Thereafter, the front ramp 150can he placed in the down extended position 156 and the vehicle 70rolled off of the support surface 100. In the alternative, the support10 with the vehicle 70 thereon can be rolled in the first direction 1 orin an opposite direction until the support 10 is no longer over theservice pit 60 and then the vehicle 70 removed.

The support 10 can be made from any material known to those skilled inthe art, illustratively including metals, plastics, rubber, wood,ceramics, and the like. The foregoing drawings, discussion anddescription are illustrative of specific embodiments of the presentinvention, but they are not meant to be limitations upon the practicethereof. Numerous modifications and variations of the invention will bereadily apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the teachingpresented herein. It is the following, claims, including allequivalents, which define the scope of the invention.

1. A process for changing the oil in a non-automotive motor vehicle, theprocess comprising: providing a service pit with a top opening having awidth; providing a non-automotive motor vehicle with an engine, theengine having an oil drain plug; providing a support, the supportdimensioned to support the non-automotive motor vehicle and to generallyspan across the width of the service pit top opening, the support alsohaving an engine access opening; placing the non-automotive motorvehicle onto the support with the oil drain plug located above the oildrain plug; placing the support and the non-automotive motor vehicleover the pit such that the support spans the width of the top openingand supports the non-automotive motor vehicle over the service pit; andchanging the oil of the non-automotive motor vehicle by removing the oildrain plug, draining oil from the engine, replacing the oil drain plugand providing additional oil in the engine.
 2. The process of claim 1,wherein the service pit is located at a quick lube facility.
 3. Theprocess of claim 1, wherein the non-automotive motor vehicle is selectedfrom the group consisting of a motorcycle, a scooter, a three-wheeler,an all-terrain vehicle and a lawnmower.
 4. The process of claim 3,wherein the non-automotive motor vehicle is a motorcycle.
 5. The processof claim 1, wherein the support is selected from the group consisting ofa plate, a cart, a dolly, a platform, a hoist and combinations thereof.6. The process of claim 5, wherein the support is a cart with a supportsurface, the support surface having the engine access opening.
 7. Theprocess of claim 1, wherein the cart has wheels for rolling the supportsurface over the service pit.
 8. The process of claim 7, wherein thecart with wheels has a rear ramp, a side ramp and a front ramp that canslide under and extend from the support surface.
 9. The process of claim8, wherein, the rear ramp in an extended position provides a surfacethat aids in rolling the non-automotive motor vehicle onto the supportsurface.
 10. The process of claim 9, wherein the side ramp in aretracted position provides a surface that blocks the engine accessopening of the support surface, and in an extended position unblocks thedrain oil opening and provides a surface for an individual to step offof the support surface.
 11. The process of claim 8, wherein the frontramp in an extended upright position provides a barrier that aids inpreventing the non-automotive motor vehicle from rolling off of a frontportion of the support surface.
 12. The process of claim 8, wherein thefront ramp in a down extended position provides a surface that aids inrolling the non-automotive motor vehicle off of the support surface. 13.The process of claim 1, wherein removing the non-automotive motorvehicle, from over the service pit includes removing the support and thenon-automotive motor vehicle from over the service pit and riding thenon-automotive motor vehicle off of the support.